01:41 24-04-2026

Tesla officially begins Cybercab production in Texas without volume restrictions

Tesla has started production of the Cybercab robotaxi at its Texas factory. Unlike earlier projects, it's not subject to a 2,500-unit cap and follows standard safety certification, enabling rapid scaling.

Tesla has officially started production of the Cybercab at its Texas factory, as confirmed by Elon Musk during the first-quarter 2026 earnings call. Unlike earlier restricted projects, the new robotaxi model is not subject to the 2,500-vehicle annual production cap and is expected to ramp up quickly toward the end of the year.

The Cybercab is one of Tesla’s first vehicles to fully meet U.S. federal safety standards. That means it doesn’t require special exemptions that previously limited autonomous vehicle output. In contrast to Waymo or Cruise, Tesla is following the standard certification process used for models like the Toyota Camry or Ford F-150, giving the company room to scale production without legal hurdles.

According to Musk, the launch follows a classic S-curve: initial volumes will be low, but exponential growth is expected by late 2026. The first steering-wheel-less car was built in February, but full series production has only just begun.

The Cybercab will be offered in two versions—a fully autonomous variant without a steering wheel and a conventional model with manual controls. Tesla continues to refine its Autopilot system, since fully driverless capability has yet to be achieved.

Musk sees the Cybercab as a key product for Tesla’s future. He notes that up to 90% of trips involve one or two passengers, so the company is betting on compact, autonomous mobility solutions.

But the project carries risks. Current Autopilot systems show a higher accident rate compared to human drivers, and timelines for full autonomy have been repeatedly pushed back.